Ethan stood frozen, his phone still pressed against his ear.He had expected Victoria to do something desperate after being abandoned by her family and Derek. But never in his wildest imagination had he thought things would end like this.She had actually gotten the money. One million dollars. And the price had been her own son's life.For a moment, Ethan felt as though he were looking at the Victoria from his previous life again.He could still remember her cold expression as she cut into his flesh without the slightest hesitation. Back then, he had been nothing more than a resource for her to exploit, someone whose suffering meant nothing as long as she got what she wanted.He had thought that after being reborn, he would never have to see that side of her again.Yet here it was. Only this time, the person she had sacrificed wasn't her husband. It was her own son.Ethan knew Victoria hadn't pushed Noah down those stairs herself. But the speed with which she had accepted the compensa

The renovations at Ethan's new mansion were progressing steadily under Daniel's supervision.Ever since construction began, Ethan had made a habit of visiting the property whenever he had free time. Although he trusted Daniel's abilities, the mansion would eventually become his primary shelter during the apocalypse, so he couldn't afford to overlook even the smallest detail.Each time he visited, he carefully inspected the work that had been completed, checked the progress of the ongoing modifications, and discussed any necessary adjustments with Daniel.Sometimes, he would notice something that needed reinforcing or an area where the layout could be improved. Whenever that happened, he would explain his requirements, and Daniel would immediately make arrangements for the changes.Fortunately, Daniel was proving to be every bit as capable as Ethan had hoped.The man had extensive experience handling complicated construction and security projects. He understood the importance of keepin

The property manager maintained a polite smile as he addressed the woman standing in the doorway.“Mrs. Parker, the boy living here is your grandson, correct?”Helen Parker frowned, clearly annoyed by the question.“Yes, Johnny is my grandson. What about him?”“Well, we've received a complaint that your grandson took a package belonging to the resident in Apartment 1502.”The moment those words left his mouth, Helen's expression changed.“Bullshit!”Her sudden shout echoed through the hallway.Ethan raised an eyebrow. The woman standing before him was almost unrecognizable compared to the cheerful old lady he had encountered previously.Back when the Bennett family had been making fools of themselves, Helen had been practically glowing with excitement. She had laughed at their misfortune, eagerly discussed their troubles, and seemed delighted whenever another embarrassing detail came to light.But now that someone was accusing her own family of wrongdoing, that cheerful attitude had d

During his evening walk, Ethan passed a fruit store and decided to stop.The shop was filled with neatly arranged displays of fresh produce. Bright red apples, ripe oranges, grapes, pears, and several varieties of tropical fruit lined the shelves.Looking at the colorful selection, Ethan suddenly remembered something important.He had already purchased enormous quantities of food, but most of his supplies consisted of rice, flour, canned goods, and other products that could be stored for long periods.Fresh fruit was another matter.Once the apocalypse arrived, getting his hands on something as simple as an apple might become nearly impossible.With that in mind, Ethan began selecting fruit without worrying about the quantity.He bought several large boxes of apples, oranges, grapes, pears, and other varieties. The shopkeeper was delighted by such a generous customer and eagerly helped him arrange the purchases.Ethan didn't care whether he could finish everything before it spoiled.H

Chapter 29Bristol City HospitalAfter several hours of emergency treatment, Mr. Parker was finally out of danger.The doctors had managed to stabilize his condition, although they insisted on keeping him in the hospital for further observation.For the Parker family, the news came as an enormous relief.Eric Parker, Helen's son, had spent the entire evening pacing outside the emergency department. His wife sat nearby, looking equally exhausted, while Helen remained in her chair with a pale face and trembling hands.When the doctor announced that Mr. Parker would survive, Eric finally released the breath he had been holding.“Thank God,” he muttered.Helen immediately began crying again. “I knew he'd be all right! Your father has always been strong!”Eric glanced at his mother but said nothing.Now that his father's life was no longer in immediate danger, another question began troubling him.What exactly had happened?His father was already in his sixties. Although he wasn't in terri